Wednesday, April 11, 2012

SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH OF THE MOUNTAINS

Monday, April 9 - Once settled into our campsite, we loaded into the car with Duane & Louise and headed up into The WEAVER Mountains. How neat is that to be in our “namesake” mountains.

weaver-mountain

Our first stop was Frog Rock. This one weighs probably 60 tons and stands (or squats) more than 16 feet tall. This rook was painted green like a frog. I guess one shouldn't be painting the mountain boulders, but it was pretty neat!

frog-rock

frog-rock-2

Our next stop was at the top of the mountain in Yarnell, AZ. The Shrine of St. Joseph of the Mountains. This was a very moving experience, especially having just completed the Easter weekend. It is the fourteen stages of the cross situated in a shaded grotto of oak trees and huge granite boulders.

A visit to the Shrine starts at the foot of St. Joseph, the patron saint of Happy Homes.St.-Joseph

A beautiful rustic path beckons you to walk with Jesus through His last days on earth.

looking-up-can't-see-anythi

Beautiful white stone statues depict Christ at the Last Supper, His footsteps along the Way of the Cross, and his condemnation to death to His placement in the tomb. At each station, you gain a better understanding of the great sacrifice He made for all mankind.

The pilgrimage begins at the table of His Last Supper, where He spent His last joyful moments.
1-last-supper

A plaque on each of the crosses describes the event that occurred.4-carry-cross

The setting for each cross in a beautiful setting. At each of the crosses, there is a seat among the stones for prayer.
setting-for-some-of-the-cro

Our first glimpse into what was ahead.
2-stairs-up-to-stage-one

His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.3-agony-in-garden-of-gethse

The Crucifixion. The rock appears to have blood on it.
5-crucifixation

What a beautiful, break-taking setting.
down-steps

Jesus taken from the cross. 6a-Jesus-taken-from-the-cro

7-a-sign

7-laid-into-the-tomb

He is Risen…He is Risen indeed!8-in-the-tomb

The bronze sculpture above is the risen Christ. Background…the tomb.risen-Christ

View from the top.
view-from-top

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit.9-Chapel-of-the-Holy-Spirit

The Shrine is free (donations are encouraged). It is located in Yarnell, AZ, just a half mile off Highway 89 and is open during daylight hours. The Shrine has never been financially supported by any Christian Denomination and relies on the generosity of its visitors and volunteer for maintenance and growth.

This is one of the emotional-draining sites we have visited. We went from sadness of the arrest to rejoicing at the Risen Savior, a beautiful reminder that our Lord did, indeed, rise from the dead and lives on in each of us forever. DO NOT miss this aspiring experience.

After stopping at the pull-outs going down the mountain for pictures, we returned to the North Ranch, our park for the week.

drive-to-shrine

Paul, Louise, Duane.
paul-louise-duane

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!